Key



Feb. 28, 1933. o. D. VON MEHREN KEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb.26 1929 'lll INVENTOR.

BY @W RNEYS.

Feb- 23, 1933- o. D, voN MEHRl-:N

KEY

Original Filed Feb. 26, 1929 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 ma w F IG. IO

Flai' l IIyI/EIVTOR.4

BY v

A oRNEYs.

thoroughly efficient in the APatented Feb. 28, 1933 yUNI-TED 'STATESPATENT Vori-*ICE oswALD D. vox MEHREN, or NEW Yonx, N. Y., ASSIGNOR ToMEHREN Loox co., ING., or CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY, A coRroRArroN ,or NEWJERSEY KEY Application med February 2c, ,1929, serial No. `342,723.Renewed July 26,3 19321 This invention relates to keys for change- .ablecombination locks, the object of 'the invention ybeing to pro-vide asimple `and ecient key construction for use in conjunction with suchlocks. f j

Locks of the character under consideration "are adapted to be operatedby a suitable key, which when thrust into the keyhole of the lock barrelserves, through such operation, to .act upon relatively `movable pins orrods in 4order to ,so relatively longitudinally position them as tounlock the barrel for rotation. The relative positions of the severalpins .or rods determine the locked or unlocked condition of the barrel.

My prior application, Serial No. 276,7 65 discloses a novel form of lockof the charac- Vter .under consideration and provides for change ofcombination by authorized persons. The present application, which isdirected to y.the Vkey for cooperation with such a lock, l l

used having longitudinal adjustable slides `,and .analogous devices foroperating the movable parts Y Aprior, constructions have..the featuresto formsa continuation in partof my said pendingapplication. j Y Y 4.One important object of the present inven- .tion is to provide a keyembodying rod or pin .operating devices which are relatively adinstable,so that they will severally act upon :the pins or rods in apredetermined manner A.to .simultaneously adjust all ofthe pins or rodsto the relative positions required lfor any rticular .combination and toso constitute a Eythat it will be simple in construction and performanceof its intended functions.

.In practically vcarrying out the invention, the key provided with asuitable shank having an appropriate handle portion. The :shank isformed With longitudinal passages in which .are positionedlongitudinally adjustableplungers adapted to engage and opcrate/thepinsor rods of the lock When the key is introduced into the keyhole.These plungers :are adapted for longitudinal adjustment into Variousrelative positions in order to effect'different combinations, and meansis proshiftinguntil such time as it isfdesireri'eoef- Within the slotsor slidesin which they are guided so that said plungers are supported inmore or less enclosed condition throughout their entire length. As aresult they cannot 'be-bent if 'the key is dropped or struck againstsomeunyielding obstruction, but Will retain -the straightefffectivecondition indefinitely.

` Another important practical feature con- .sists in so formingthehandle of the key that atleast a portionVV of such handleis movableIinto and out of position to cover and conceal the adjusting devicesfor` s-uch plungers and serve in effect as a lock or shield Which, underordinary conditions, Willpreclude tampering with the combination vfofthe key.

I am aware thatikeys have heretofore .been

of a lock, butin none ofthe'se Which 'I have referredA found practicalembodiment.

` in marked practical improvements in key construction With the resultvthata key is pro- `duced capable of efficient operation of such locks as`I have hereinbefore referred to.

Features of the invention, other than those i referred to, Will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, .when

readin `conjunction With the accompanying drawings.' i l Theaccompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments oftheinvention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understoodas ',illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of theinvention.

`Figure 1 is a side Velevation of one form of key embodying 4the presentinvention.

Figures 2, 3 .and 4c are',prespectively, vsecktions'on the lines 2 2, 33 and 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a detailed elevation of one key pin or plunger used in the`.constructionof Figures to 6.

Figure 6 is a. face view of the keyrof Figure 1 with the cover removed.

i "te therein is made in Figure 7 is a face view of a modified form ofkey with ther cover removed. Figure 8 is a like view of the key ofFigure 7 with the cover closed.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7. i

Figure Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the pins or plungers shown inthe key of Figure 7. A j y Y y yFigure'12 is a side elevation of afurther 10 is a section on the line 10,10 of kmodified -form of key.

' Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, the key vthe form of a flat blank ofmaterial :comprising a shank 101 and a handle 102. The key is of thegeneral chari adjusted longitudinally in acter of a conventional flat ofthe blank, gitudinally of the shank and from the Vfree A another andVpreferably l or Ahook shaped toe 105.

' graduated by 6 to adjust the pins to slightly thicker. Adjacent theopposite face holes are bored extending lonend thereof. These holes areparallel to one sov close to the facial surfaces of the key thatthefaces of the blank. i

Six such holes are bored and they are dis- Vposed in the same relativerelation as the klock pins or rods with ved to cooperate.

which they are adapt- In each of the holes is introduced a pin orplunger103 and each plunger has a cut away portion 104 provided at the rear endof the pin with an upturned The opposite faces ofthe handle 102-are:provided with'dove tail slots 106 and in each.

of these dove tail slots is positioned a sliding `plate 107, the innerface of which is grooved to provide -a number of parallel groovesv 108Iextending across axially of thekey and spaced closely apart.

' dinally into the position of Figures 1 and 3,

the toes 105 of the respective plungers 103,

fwill engage with appropriate groovesl 108 on the slides 107, and theplungers will Ybe thereby locked in' position against inadf vertentlongitudinal shifting so long as the plates are in their closedpositions exhibited in Figurel. The plates are normally sekey althoughthey will cut through rit precludes cured in these closed positions bymeans of screws 110. V

A notch 111 is preferably formed in the shank of the key to cooperatewith the front plate of the lock preclude removal. of the key inpositions other than those predetermined;

In the construction of Figs. 7 to 11, the body of the key is formedwitha shank 101e and a handle 1020i.y vided with longitudinally `parallelgrooves 112 which are undercut or dove tail as shown. 1 In eachof thesegrooves is a n plunger 103e of corresponding cross Section5 Each plungerhas a serrated edge aland with ythe serrated edges of 'each twoplungersv a leaf spring 108e is adapted to cooperate. j The leaf springsare secured in'place'f by -rivets in such manner as to The key blank isproa 113 and the free end ofeach of theseleafr" sprin gs is providedwith a turned down noseadapted to simultaneously engagel with theserra-ted edges 105er, of theV two i associated plungers to lock theplungers against inadvertent longitudinal movement. j When it is desiredlto change'the adjustment of the plungers,4 the leaf springv is drawnoutwardly to release the plungersfor adjustment, and aftertheadjustments have been made with the assistance of scales 1090!, i. ,v

the springs are released and sprungbazck' into with the plungers to'lockflthem engagement j j The oppositefaces of the blank in position.

are flush and with these faces'of thehan'dle portion are of the blank.mounted for pivotal movementon'ja'rivet 106e kand are securedtogether'forfsimultaneous pivotal movement *by an interposed abutment114, the yinner p y curved at 115 on a radius, the center ofwhich is theaxis of the rivetv106a. i The corresponding end lof the' handle Valsocurved as at 116 on the rsame radius so` that the cover platesfmay` beswun'gfrom the position shown in Figure7 to the position shown inFigure8 and viceversa. When in position as shown in Figure 7, theplungers may be readily adjusted, but: when in the position ofFigure 8,the cover plates' conceal thev adjusting 'devices in the key.l The'coverplates maybe locked in the position shown in'Figure 8 by a screw 110e.yThe key blank j is preferably provided witha kkey chain hole 117 and thecover plates are preferably s0 formed as to provide perforations 1118'to register with the perforations 117 when the parts are in theposition of Figure 8. vZhen adapted toicooperatefcoverplates 107-a, oneof which is positionedlat each face f- Both 'the coverf plates" are fiethe key as'shown in Figure 8 is positionedon a key ring, alinedperforations of the handle andlcover plates and will hold the coverplates in closed position even though the y,screw 1 10ar,"i`s not thering will pass through the4 secured in place. This .isadvantageous'since changing of the key ycombina- AVtion without removalof the key from `the key Yring ,and 'this minimizes the opportunityvr`In Vthe structure of Figures 12 and 18, an unadjustable key is shown.With this arcombination cannot be vided therein with pockets :119, the'bases of which form abutments 120 to engage with fthe key operated pinsor'rods of the lock.

The advantage of the structure of Figures A12 and 1,3 over some of thekeys heretofore employed is Iits 'marked' lsimplicity and the furtherfact that dirt or extraneous matter cannot lgetinto the holes or pocketsand clog them nor are there `any projecting parts "which may be readilybent and thus rendered inoperative to actuate the lock. In all of theadjustable forms of key which I have shown, the plungers for operatingthe lock pins into predetermined relative positions are supportedthroughout their ent-ire lengths in slots or holes vformed in the keyblank. This is of Vvery considerable importance because I have found inpractice that'where keys are providedv with plungers which extend beyondthe end of the shank or handle, as in 'the majorityv of cases, thesepinswill, after a relatively short time', become bent, or distortedbecause they must of necessity be made quite `small and relatively weakstructurally.

With the present invention, in contradistinction, the plungers may bemade even smaller .than heretofore .and a `greater number of them may begrouped on av key of relatively small size and yet by 'supporting themthroughout their entire length, the possibility of damage to theplungers is practically nil. In all of the structures which yI haveshownl and described, moreover, the slots in Which the plungers aremounted forI adjustment are open to the sidesof the key, so that dirt orother extraneous matter cannot accumulate therein or preclude function.of

"the key in a proper manner.

` The arrangement in each instance is such as 4to permit the use of .akey of relatively small. size and in the adjustable combination keys,the key need be little if any larger than conventional lock keys as nowemployed. The ability to adjust a key in the manner 'which I havedescribed and to normally cover p and conceal the adjustable devicesasso- 1 ciated therewith in `a manner to safeguard the same fromtampering, is, so far as I am jjaware, highly novel.

j The arrangement described is of marked practicalimportance for itenables a key holder to change the combination of the .lock atwillwithout necessity of employ* ment of a different key, it being onlynecessary to manipulate the lookin the manner required and vto thereuponchange the key cess to the adjustable devices of the key.

accordingly. 'This change lmay be Vmanifestly accomplished without theuse of tools, :any implement which will release the screws 110 or v110ebeing appropriate to vpermit .of fao'- rll-he accompanying drawings areillustrative of the invention in its preferred l'practical form, butthe' invention is to ibejunder- Lstood as fully commensurate vwith theappended claims. V

j AHaving thus fully described the invention,

` what 'I claim as new and desire to secure by nally `of the shank andparallel to one anlotherand lhoused wholly within the -conlines of theblank to be supported for their entire lengths at all times, saidplungers being mounted for longitudinal adjustment relative to the shankand each other, means for lock-ing all ,of the rods against inadvertentmovement, and means for securing theA plunger lockingmeans againstinadvertent release of the plungers.

3.,A combination lock key embodying a blank having shank and handleportions, l'ock :10F

operating plungers extending longitudinally of the shank and parallel toone anotherand housed wholly within the `contines of the blank to besupported for their entire lengths at all times,` said plungers beingmounted fon longitudinal adjustment relative to Ithe shankand eachother, means for locking all of the plungers against inadvertentmovement, and a graduated scale formed on the blankadjacent the plungersto facilitate positioning of the plungers according to a predeterminedCombination when said plungersare released for adjustment.

4;. A combina-tion lock key embodying a blank provided with shank andhandle por tions, the shank portion having a plurality of passagesextending from the free end of the shank in parallel relation to one,lanother and with one side of `each passageopen for its entire length toone facefof the blank, loc-k' operating plungerspositioned in and'longitudinally adjustable lwith respect to saidpassages said plungersbeing supported for their full lengths by the walls of the passagesat ytions, the shank portion having a plurality of passages extending fromthe Jfree end of the shank in parallel relation to one another and Withone side of each passage open for its entire length to one face of theblank, lock operating plungers positioned in and longitudinallyadjustable With respect to-said passages said plungersbeing supportedfor their full lengths by the Walls of the passages at all times, meansfor locking said plungers against.k inadvertent longitudinal movement,andv means for securing a plunger locking means against inadvertentrelease of the plungers. Y

6. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided with shank andhandle portions, the shank portion having a plurality Vof passagesextending from the free end thereof into the handle portion, plungerspositioned Within the passages and adjustable longitudinally thereof,said passages being open to one face of the blank at least in the handleportion thereof to permit access to the plungers for longitudinaladjustment, and a cover normally overlying the exposed Vportions of theplungers at the handle portion of the key. 1

T7. A combination Vlock key embodying a Lblank provided With shank andhandle portions, the shank Vportion havingY a plurality of passagesextending from the free end thereofv into the handle portion, plungerspositioned Within the passages and adjustable longitudinally thereof,said passages being open to one face of the blank at least in thehandleportion thereof to permit access to the plungers for longitudinaladjustment, a cover normally overlying the exposed portions of thehandle portion or" the the plungers at for securing the. cover 1n key,and means closed position.

`8. A'combinationl lock key embodying a blank Vprovided with shankandhandle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from thereeendof the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of thepassages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operatingplungers positioned in and adjustable longitudinally of saidpassagesfand means associated with the handle or the blank to lock theplungers against inadvertent shifting.

9. A combination lock key embodying a blank'provided With shankandhandle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from thefree end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of thepassages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operatingVplungers positioned in and adjustabler longitudinally of saidv passages,and unitary means for locking a plurality of said plungers againstinadvertent longitudinal movement.

10. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided with shank andhandle portions and having a plurality of passages extending from thefree en-d of the shank intoV the handle portion, one side of each of thepassages being opento the yadjacent face of said passages, cover platesmovable with respect tothe handle portion and adapted to bey movedfromopen toclosed position land vice versa, to permit access to the endsof the plungers which extend into the handle portion.V

l1. A combination lock key embodying a blank provided With shank andhandle portions and having a plurality of passages eX- tending. from theJfree end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each of thepassages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operatingplungers posiy tioned in and adjustable longitudinally of said passages,cover plates movable With respect to theh-andle portion and adapted tobe moved tromopen'toclosed position and vice versato permit access ltothe ends of the plungersvvhich extend into the handle portion, andgraduated scales associated with the handle portion of the passages toAfacilitate adjustment of the plungers Yto predetermined combinations.

l2. A combination lock key embodying a .blank provided With shank andhandle portions and having a plurality of passages extending icrom thefree end of the shank into the handle portion, one side of each yof thepassages being open to the adjacent face of the blank, lock operatingplungers positioned in and adjustable longitudinally of said passages,cover plates movable With respect to the handle portion and adapted tobe moved from open to closed position and vice versa, to permit accessto the ends ofthe plungers which extend into the handle por- Y. tion.Ygraduated scales associated with the handle portion of thepassagestofacilitate adjustment of the plungers to'predeterminedV combinations,and means for securingvthecover plates in normally closed position.

13. A combination lock key embodying a fiat blank provided in at leastone face thereof with parallel channels all of which extend from one'end of the blank, lock operating plungers longitudinally adjust-ableVWithin said channels, and means to lock the plungers in vari-ouspositions of adjustment,

said plungers being of such length that they will not extend beyond thesaid end of theV blank, in any of such positions of adjustment. A .f Y

14. combination .lock keyhaving a shank Jitrom the free end of whichextends a plurality of parallel passages adapted to receive theoperating pins of a lock when the key is brought intcooperative relationthereto one side of each passage being cut away to the adjacent face ofthe shank to preclude lodging of extraneous matter in the passages.

l5. A combination lock key having a shank from the free end of whichextends a plurality of parallel passages adapted to receive theoperating pins of a lock when the key is brought into coopera-tiverelation thereto, one side of each passage being cut away to theadjacent face of the shank to preclude lodging of extraneous matter inthe passages, and an adjustable member in each passage to regulate thedepth thereof to the desired connbination.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

OSWALD D. voN MEHREN.

